End coupling for faired cable

ABSTRACT

An end coupling for connecting faired underwater guidance cables to associated structures, e.g. submerged detection and exploration devices, is disclosed. The cable body, which has the cross-sectional contours of an airfoil, includes a relatively less flexible, resin and filament forward strength member, preferably generally channellike or U-shaped in cross section, and a relatively more flexible, syntactic foam aft or tail member. In the manufacturing process, extra lengths of the filaments are left to protrude from the ends of the final cable body, and the coupling construction includes separable telescoping elements between which the filaments may be threaded and clamped.

United States Patent [72] lnventots Edwin C. Uhlig; 2.041385 5/1936 VanLuanen, lr 24/126( .3)UX Robert C. Kohrn. South Bend, 1nd. 2,689,3899/1954 Sunderland 24/122.6 [21 Appl. No. 810.064l9 9 FOREIGN PATENTS1321 Filed 2L 6 Ad 51 (m 12/1942 France 24/126 1 1 v 1 Y H (.3) Divisionof Ser. No. 685.076 Nov. 22 1967.

I 538,682 8 1941 t t 1451 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 Gm 24/122 6 [73]Assignee Uniroyal, lnc. Primary Examiner-Laramie E. Askin N Y k, N YAttorney-Norbert P. Holler a corporation of New Jersey [54] END COUPLINGFOR FAlRED CABLE 8C1 .10D F alms ramng ABSTRACT: An end couplmg forconnecting falred unl l 174/74, derwater guidance cables to associatedstructures, e.g. sub- 1 24/1216, 2i/126 merged detection and explorationdevices, is disclosed. The 1 1 8 15/02 cable body, which has thecross-sectional contours of an aira 1 H05 foil, includes a relativelyless flexible, resin and filament for- [50] Fleld 0f Search 174/70, 74,ward strength member pfefefab'y generally channemke or U- 7934/1221 129126K, 26L, 126-3; shaped in cross section, and a relatively moreflexible, syntac- 287/82, 114 tic foam aft or tail member. In themanufacturing process, extra lengths of the filaments are left toprotrude from the [56] References cued ends of the final cable body, andthe coupling construction in- UNlTED STATES PATENTS eludes separabletelescoping elements between which the fila- 1,440,504 1 1923 Snow 24/ 126(L) ments may be threaded and clamped.

PATENTEU FEB 9 Ian SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTORS EDWIN C UHLIG wc. KOHRNATTORNEY PATEHH H m] 9197! SHEET 3 BF 3 INVENTORS EDWIN c. UHLIG we.KOHRN AfTORNEY END COUPLING FOR FAIRED CABLE This application is adivision of application Ser. No. 685,076, filed Nov. 22, I967 Theforegoing abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition oras a limitation of the present invention, and in order to understand thefull nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application,reference must be had to the following detailed description and theaccompanying drawings as well as to the claims.

Generally speaking, as disclosed in Loshigian US. Pat. No. 3,443,020based on an application filed of even date with the aforesaidapplication Ser. No. 685,076 and assigned to the assignee of the instantapplication, the type of faired cable to which the present inventionpertains has the outer cross-sectional contours of an airfoil, theforward part of the cross section being constituted by or including arearwardly open channellike or substantially U-shaped relatively lessflexible strength member, and the aft part of the cross section beingattached to the rearwardmost end of the strength member, e.g. at theends of the legs of the U or flanges of the channel, and having the formof a relatively more flexible tail of substantially triangular shape.The strength member is made of high modulus filaments in a resin matrix,such as glass filaments in an epoxy or epoxy/polyurethane resin, and theaft part or tail section is made of syntactic foam, preferably such asthe cured end product of a mixture of a liquid polyether polyurethanecomposition andglass microspheres. Suitable electrical conductors areincorporated in the strength member portion of the cable body. Thedescribed faired cable construction enables a submerged detection orexploration device connected thereto to be driven and steered by remotecontrol or through the intermediary of the cable itself so as to runahead or abreast of the surface command ship or control vessel, and ifdesired to be simply towed behind such vessel, with maximum stabilityeven at high speeds and great depths, and such a cable can be made innonsectioned continuous form of indeterminate length, ranging up tothousands of feet, and may be wound up on a suitably sized winch drumwithout any risk of incurring a permanent set.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novelend-coupling construction designed for use with a faired cable of thetype constituting the invention set forth in the aforesaid Loshigianpatent, and in particular to provide end couplings for the finishedcable construction which are designed to take advantage of thefilimentary nature of the strength member and are adapted to be attachedto the same generally after the completion of the various cablebody-forming operations.

The foregoing and other objects, characteristics and advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description thereof when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in:

FIG. I is a fragmentary elevational view of a faired cable of the typereferred to hereinbefore and illustrated as connected to a submergeddevice and a surface or command vessel therefore;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, partly sectional, perspective view, on agreatly enlarged scale, of one version of the faired cable;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are transverse cross-sectional views of somewhat modifiedembodiments of the cable construction;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section through an end coupling according tothe present invention adapted to be used with such a cable andillustrates the manner of connecting the cable to the submerged device;

FIG. 5A is a perspective exploded view of the end coupling shown in FIG.5;

FIGS. 58, 5C and 5D are, respectively, sectional views taken along thelines 58-58, 5C-5C and SD-SD in FIG. 5, FIG. 5D being drawn to asomewhat larger scale; and

FIG. 5B is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view of the circledportion of FIG. 5 and further illustrates the strength member filamentarrangement within the confines of the end coupling.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated inFIG. 1 the stern of a surface vessel 30, e.g. an

oceanographic exploration ship, riding on the surface of a body of water31 and provided with a winch drum 32 rotatubly supported on bearingblocks or brackets 33. Played out from the drum over an idler guide roll34 and into the water is a length of cable 35 the construction of whichconstitutes the subject matter of the aforesaid Loshigian patent. At itsremote ends, the cable is provided with respective end couplings 36(only one is shown), one of which is connected to the winch and theother of which is connected to an underwater detection or explorationdevice 37. The latter, which per se con stitutes no part of the presentinvention and thus will not be further described herein in any greatdetail, may for the purposes of this description be taken to be of aself-propelled or maneuverable type within the casing of which is housedany suitable underwater detection and/or scanning system, for examplesonar or a television camera. Nevertheless, it should be realized thatthe device 37 need not be self-propelled but may be a towed device.

As clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the cable basically has an airfoilcross section and consists in general of a forward strength member 38and an integral aft or tail member 39, the former being generallyU-shaped in cross section so as to provide a channel 38a which extendsalong the entire length of the strength member. Arranged within thechannel 380 near the front edge or bottom of the latter is an electricalpower conductor 40. The remainder of the channel 380 is filled with anelectrical insulation section which is shown in FIG. 2, where it isdesignated 41, as extending up to the line of juncture between thestrength and aft members 38 and 39. The strength member 38 at itsrearwardmost end, i.e. at the end faces of the legs of the U, is furtherprovided with a pair of grooves 42 into which are laid a pair of signalconductors 43. Details of the conductors are set forth in the Loshigianpatent. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the conductors 43 are insulated bythe aft or tail member 39, but if desired the insulation section,designated 41a for the cable'35a in FIG. 3 and 41b for the cable 35b inFIG. 4, and preferably composed of an unfilled polyurethane compositionas also set forth in the Loshigian patent, may extend beyond the rearend of the strength member, i.e. beyond the juncture line and into theregion of the tail member, so as to cover the signal conductors as well.Especially an arrangement such as that shown in FIG. 4 has an additionaladvantage, in that it enables a larger power conductor to be placed intothe channel without any sacrifice of insulation, and in that it alsoprovides a larger thickness of insulation for a normal or below normalsize power conductor if that be deemed necessary. 7

The strength member 38, which is relatively less flexible, in essencecomprises a mass of continuous, longitudinally oriented, high modulusfilaments 38', preferable glass filaments, embedded in or impregnatedwith a suitable binder or resin, e.g. an epoxy or epoxy/polyurethaneresin. Various possible binder formulations and binder/glass proportionsare set forth in the Loshigian patent, to which reference may be had forfurther details. At the same time, the aft or tail member 39 of thecable, which is relatively more flexible than the strength member, is ofa material which comprises a resin supplemented by a filler having a lowspecific gravity, and as previously indicated, a composite fonnedprimarily of a liquid polyether polyurethane composition admixed withglass microspheres (designated 39' in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is preferred.Various formulations for this composite are also set forth in theLoshigian patent to which reference should be had for details.

To enable the end couplings 36 to be connected to the faired cable,predetermined lengths component of the strength member 38 are initiallyleft free and unimpregnated at the opposite ends thereof during thecable manufacturing operation as described in the aforesaid applicationSer. No. 685,076, to which reference should be had for details of theoperation care being taken to avoid any damage to such unimpregnatedfilaments until the end couplings are attached thereto. At the sametime, of course, enough of the power and signal conductors 40 and 43 arepennitted to extend beyond the ends of the molded cable body 35 (or 35aor 351)) to enable the conductors to extend through the couplings and tobe connected to the respective electric circuit elements on the controlvessel and in the submerged device. 7

Referring now to FIGS. and 5A in particular, an end coupling 36according to the present invention preferably comprises an outer hollowstainless steel casing 116 which is adapted to receive a moldedfiberglass plug 117 and a stainless steel sleeve 118. The casing isgenerally cylindrical over the major portion of its length and hasexternal threads 119 at one end for connection to the submerged deviceor an adjunct of the winding drum. The interior generally cylindricalbore 120 of the casing tapers at the other endof the latter, as shown at1200 while the plug 117 is cylindrical in its middle region and taperedat its opposite end regions 117a and 117b the axial length of the plugbeing somewhat greater than that of the casing 116. The sleeve 118 has acylindrical exterior surface and a conically tapered interior bore 121,Le. its wall is wedge shaped in axial cross section. As clearly shown inFIG. 5A, the I plug-117 is further provided with a relatively widerectangular.

axial bore 122 and a pair of relatively smaller rectangular bores 123 onopposite sides of and parallel to the bore 122.

To connect the faired cable to the end coupling 36, the unimpregnatedend region of the filament component of the strength member is threadedthrough the casing 116 and around the as yet not inserted plug 117, atwhich time the filaments may also be sectionalized into a plurality ofcircumferential layers 45 separated radially by preimpregnatedcircumferential layers of glass cloth 124 (see FIG. SE) for the purposeof attaining maximum interlaminar shear properties .between thefilaments in the coupling. At the same time, the

power conductor 40 and the signal conductors 43 are threadedthrough thebores 122 and 123 of the plug, respectively, and the wedge sleeve 118 isfitted over the filament and glass cloth composite onto the end l17b ofthe plug 117. Duringthese operations, an epoxy resin binder impregnantis applied to the filaments between the cable body and the end couplingas well as to the filament and glass cloth composite, and the entireassembly is then drawn into the casing 116 to attain the condition shownin FIG. 5. The portion of the bundle of filaments between the cable bodyand the coupling may be wrapped with one or more layers of aresinimpregnated glass cloth 125 (FIGS. 5 and 5D). The cable andcoupling are then subjected to longitudinal tension for tightening theassembly and to a curing operation for the resin-impregnant. As

. a final step, a flexible resin fairing body (not shown), conforminggenerally to the stretch of filaments between the cable I body and theend coupling, but this will, of course, be done ;only at that end of'thecable which isultimately to be con- ;nected to the submerged device.

. Any number of variants within the spirit and scope of the I presentinvention, as defined by the hereto appended claims, will-readilysuggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

We cla iini j I 1 An end'cou plin'g for a cable the strength member ofwhich includesa plurality of elongated, high modulus filaments,comprising an open ended elongated outer casing having an internal borewhich is cylindrical over a portion of its- =length from one end andtapers over the. remainder of its length to the other end, an inner plugwhich is cylindrical over its middle region and tapers toward both ends,said plug in the assembled state of the coupling being axiallytelescoped into i said casing from the cylindrical open end of said boreof the 'latter so that one of the tapered end sections of said plug isdisposed within the confines of the tapered bore portion of said casing,the outer diameter of said plug being less than the Fdiameter of saidbore to enable said filaments to extend through said casingin'surrounding relation to said plug, and a said sleeve in the assembledstate of the coupling being oriented with its bore tapering away fromthe tapered portion of said bore of said casing and being fitted axiallyand smoothly slidably into said casing at the cylindrical open end ofthe latter in surrounding relation to said second tapered end section ofsaid plug and, by virtue of the difference in diameter between said boreof said sleeve and said second tapered end section of said plug, to anyportions of said filaments overlying the same, whereby with saidfilaments threaded through said bore of said casing to lie between saidplug and said casing over the major portion of the length of said casingfrom the tapered end of said bore thereof, and for the remainder of saidlength between said plug and said sleeve, the application of tensionbetween said strength member of said cable and said casing causes thoseof said filaments within said casing to be clamped'tightly between saidplug on the one hand and said casing and sleeve entity on the other.

2. An end coupling according to claim 1, said plug being made of moldedfiberglass, and said casing and said sleeve being made of stainlesssteel.

5. In a faired cable the body of which includes a strength membercomposed of a resin-impregnated bundle of elongated, high modulusfilaments at least one end section of which is left resin free duringthe cable body manufacturing operation; and end coupling structure forthe cable, comprising an open ended elongated outer casing having aninternal bore which is cylindrical over a portion of its length from oneend and tapers over the remainder of its length to the other end, aninner plug which is cylindrical over its middle region and tapers towardboth ends, said plug having an outer diameter which is less than thediameter of said bore and being telescoped into said casing from thecylindrical open end of said bore with one of the tapered end sectionsof said plug disposed within the confines of the tapered bore portion ofsaid casing, and a wedging sleeve having a cylindrical outer surface anda bore which tapers from one end to the other, the outer diameter ofsaid sleeve being substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindricalportion of said bore of said casing, the diameter of said bore of saidsleeve being greater than the outer diameter of said plug in the regionof the second tapered end section of the latter, and said sleeve,oriented with its bore tapering away from the tapered portion of saidbore of said casing, being fitted into the latter at said cylindricalopen end of said bore of said casing in surrounding relation to saidsecond tapered end section of said plug, said initially resinfreefilaments in said end section of said bundle being layered in aresin-impregnated state around said plug and extending through theannular space defined between said plug and said casing over the majorportion of the length of said casing from the tapered end of said borethereof, and for the remainder of said length between said plug and saidsleeve, said filaments in said end section of said bundle of filamentsbeing clamped tightly within said casing by the application of tensionbetween said strength member of said cable body and said casing, andsaid casing in the region of said cylindrical open end of said borethereof being provided with means enabling connection I of the cable toanother device.

6. A faired cable according to claim 5, said plug being provided with atleast one internal bore to afford passage for electrical conductorsincorporated in the cable.

7. A faired cable according to claim 6, further comprising at least oneply of resin-impregnated fiberglass fabric interlarninated with saidfilaments in said end section of said bundle of filaments at leastwithin the clamped region thereof.

M 8 jA f aired casisaccarais reclaim; seating being niade' Patent No.Dated February 9 1971 Inventor(s) Edwln c Uhllg et 1 It is certifiedthat error appears in the above-identified patent and that said LettersPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, lines 4 to 9, cancel "The foregoing abstract not to be takeneither as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the presentinvention and in order to understa the full nature and extent of thetechnical disclosure of th application, reference must be had to thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings as well asto the claims.", and insert the same as part of the "ABSTRACT".

Column 1, line 3, after "1967" insert now U. S. Patent No. 3,530,211,issued September 22, 1970. same column 1,

before line 10, insert This invention relates to faired cablesprincipally adapted for use in guiding both towed and selfpropelled ormaneuverable submerged devices through wate for such purposes asunderwater exploration and mapping,

detection of submarines and other underwater vessels and structuresstudy of marine plant and animal life and habit:

etc., and in particular to end couplings for such cables.

can 90-1050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC e0 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent3,562,406 Dated February 9, 1971 Edwin C. Uhlig et al. Page 2lnventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 46, "filimentary" should read filamentary line 52, after"in", second occurrence, insert which Column 2, line 68, after "lengths"insert of the filamem Column 3, line 16, after "ll7b" insert a comma;line 49, af1

"generally" insert to the contours of the cable body, ma

be molded after line 55, insert Having thus describe the invention, whatis claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is Column 4 line26, after "1" insert 2 comma; line 70 "6" should read 5 line 74 "7"shoul read 5 Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. An end coupling for a cable the strength member of which includes aplurality of elongated, high modulus filaments, comprising an open endedelongated outer casing having an internal bore which is cylindrical overa portion of its length from one end and tapers over the remainder ofits length to the other end, an inner plug which is cylindrical over itsmiddle region and tapers toward both ends, said plug in the assembledstate of the coupling being axially telescoped into said casing from thecylindrical open end of said bore of the latter so that one of thetapered end sections of said plug is disposed within the confines of thetapered bore portion of said casing, the outer diameter of said plugbeing less than the diameter of said bore to enable said filaments toextend through said casing in surrounding relation to said plug, and awedging sleeve having a cylindrical outer surface and a bore whichtapers from one end to the other, the outer diameter of said sleeve andthe diameter of said bore thereof being, respectively, substantiallyequal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of said bore of saidcasing and greater than the outer diameter of the second tapered endsection of said plug, said sleeve in the assembled state of the couplingbeing oriented with its bore tapering away from the tapered portion ofsaid bore of said casing and being fitted axially and smoothly slidablyinto said casing at the cylindrical open end of the latter insurrounding relation to said second tapered end section of said plugand, by virtue of the difference in diameter between said bore of saidsleeve and said second tapered end section of said plug, to any portionsof said filaments overlying the same, whereby with said filamentsthreaded through said bore of said casing to lie between said plug andsaid casing over the major portion of the length of said casing from thetapered end of said bore thereof, and for the remainder of said lengthbetween said plug and said sleeve, the application of tension betweensaid strength member of said cable and said casing causes those of saidfilaments within said casing to be clamped tightly between said plug onthe one hand and said casing and sleeve entity on the other.
 2. An endcoupling according to claim 1, said plug being provided with at leastone internal bore to afford passage for electrical conductorsincorporated in the cable.
 3. An end coupling according to claim 2, saidcasing in the region of said cylindrical open bore end thereof beingprovided with means enabling connection of the coupling to anotherdevice.
 4. An end coupling according to claim 1 said plug being made ofmolded fiberglass, and said casing and said sleeve being mAde ofstainless steel.
 5. In a faired cable the body of which includes astrength member composed of a resin-impregnated bundle of elongated,high modulus filaments at least one end section of which is left resinfree during the cable body manufacturing operation; and end couplingstructure for the cable, comprising an open ended elongated outer casinghaving an internal bore which is cylindrical over a portion of itslength from one end and tapers over the remainder of its length to theother end, an inner plug which is cylindrical over its middle region andtapers toward both ends, said plug having an outer diameter which isless than the diameter of said bore and being telescoped into saidcasing from the cylindrical open end of said bore with one of thetapered end sections of said plug disposed within the confines of thetapered bore portion of said casing, and a wedging sleeve having acylindrical outer surface and a bore which tapers from one end to theother, the outer diameter of said sleeve being substantially equal tothe diameter of the cylindrical portion of said bore of said casing, thediameter of said bore of said sleeve being greater than the outerdiameter of said plug in the region of the second tapered end section ofthe latter, and said sleeve, oriented with its bore tapering away fromthe tapered portion of said bore of said casing, being fitted into thelatter at said cylindrical open end of said bore of said casing insurrounding relation to said second tapered end section of said plug,said initially resin-free filaments in said end section of said bundlebeing layered in a resin-impregnated state around said plug andextending through the annular space defined between said plug and saidcasing over the major portion of the length of said casing from thetapered end of said bore thereof, and for the remainder of said lengthbetween said plug and said sleeve, said filaments in said end section ofsaid bundle of filaments being clamped tightly within said casing by theapplication of tension between said strength member of said cable bodyand said casing, and said casing in the region of said cylindrical openend of said bore thereof being provided with means enabling connectionof the cable to another device.
 6. A faired cable according to claim 5,said plug being provided with at least one internal bore to affordpassage for electrical conductors incorporated in the cable.
 7. A fairedcable according to claim 6, further comprising at least one ply ofresin-impregnated fiberglass fabric interlaminated with said filamentsin said end section of said bundle of filaments at least within theclamped region thereof.
 8. A faired cable according to claim 7, saidplug being made of molded fiberglass, and said casing and said sleevebeing made of stainless steel.